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livlaughlove) wrote2023-12-15 11:44 pm
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sticksandbones IC Inbox
Powers nerfed & gained
Self-healing: Nerfed on arrival from near-instant to delayed by a few minutes. Think 5-10.
Superhuman strength: Nerfed on arrival. Still super strong, but not to the same extent.
Dragon Blessing - Strength: Makes up for original nerf. Plus dual sets of horns, one pair curved down to frame his face, one pair curved back and up. Sharp and harshly angled, like his sunburst tattoos.
Dragon Blessing - Balance: Thick, alligator-like tail.
Deaths & Resurrection prices
Death - August 2024: Killed by a Corrupted Vash.
Price: Marksmanship skill. Can no longer aim a gun worth a damn.
Other permanent changes
Memory Loss - February 2024: In Razlo's heartspace, his memory of Chapel defending him to the other Masters was destroyed. He still recalls having been fiercely loyal to Chapel, but not why.
Scarring - March 2024: Scars in an enormous jaw pattern spanning from his thighs to upper arm, with teeth marks along both his chest and back.
Temporary changes
Hydra form - May 2025: from Event/TDM 24. A bunch of fungi made LR into some fun guys.
weasel's note: livio's handwriting is extremely neat and uncannily consistent. every letter is always the same exact size and shape. as if simply writing perfectly in times new roman was a humanly possible thing.
livio can commonly be found where he lives at vash's house or looking after the school.
plotting contact: PM // discord @ fuckweasel
cw: suicide ment
Wolfwood is not exactly in the headspace to handle someone being this genuine with him, but least of all god damn Livio, who he'd just watched blow his own brains out to break himself free from the Eye's control. He'd just gotten him back, only to lose him forever within moments. And Livio...he thinks it's him that got Wolfwood back?
His brows form a sudden, desperate curve. He'd managed to fight it back when he was fighting with Vash, but now it's too much. He doesn't manage to turn his face away in time before tears race down his cheeks, prompting him to quickly bring a hand up to press his thumb and forefinger to his eyes underneath his sunglasses.]
I- I'm sorry. Fuck.
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It's reminiscent of childhood, somewhat, but not identical. Nick hadn't been the type to baby him, so much as grab him by the scruff and yank him up and out of his funk. Livio doesn't have the heart to be so rough; in fact, he finds his own eyes stinging in sympathy. But he holds it together, keeping steady for his oldest friend.]
You've got nothing to apologize to me for. I'm here, Nick.
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Crash and burn, probably. Self destruct harder than he has already.
He sniffs, taking a moment to just...breathe. Livio was always good at that, too. Helping him to manage his temper when they were kids. He'd keep him grounded in ways not even the other adults could, which seems to be coming through now in the way he breathes slowly and tries not to let his anger get the better of him. It's unfortunate, then, that with nothing else to replace it, another wave of sadness floods into the hole that rage left behind.
He looks genuinely heartbroken, for lack of a better word. Betrayed. Disgusted at himself for falling for him, yet again, falling for Vash's same old trick of letting you in before crushing your foot in the door.
Wolfwood exhales shakily, looking down into his lap now as he tries to figure out...where to even start.]
You know how you said...your job was to make Vash the Stampede experience eternal suffering. Mine was to take him to Knives. Unharmed. I'd stop anyone and everyone who got in the way...even his own men, sometimes. Well Vash, he...he told me he knew about that, but he stayed with me anyway. He'd convinced himself I was...above what I was being forced to do. That I was a good person.
And now he's... [His breath stutters, and the words trail off, becoming faint. He's a hair's breadth from becoming incensed again, but he keeps the boil to a simmer.] He fucking. Does this. He tells me I'm...good. Or worth keeping around, or what-the-fuck ever. And then he shuts me out. Acts like he's some...god damn pariah who knows better than everyone else.
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Livio's eyes squeeze shut. He isn't at all surprised that Nicholas would fail so utterly in that mission without actually failing. He knows all too well the callousness that the Eye of Michael breeds, but... Nick always went his own way.]
He's right about that, at least. That you're a good person. You could have easily killed me, but you risked yourself to save me, instead. [As meek as Livio has been, he sounds quite firm in that, no patience for arguing.
For the rest... he's back in that deep well of sorrow. He doesn't sound angry, necessarily, but perhaps disappointed. Livio was under the impression that Vash was a big part of the reason Nick was willing to embrace his gentler side.]
I don't think that's your fault. It sounds like... Vash is perfectly capable of causing his own suffering. Especially if he's willing to treat you like that.
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[Ah, there's the anger bubbling back to the surface as Wolfwood furiously wipes his eyes again to make sure no more wetness remains, even as he realizes he doesn't feel any shame in crying in front of Livio. He doesn't like it, but he's known him long enough that he feels less like his world is going to crumble if Livio sees him vulnerable.
He thought Vash was the same but, well.
He shakes his head. He won't argue with Livio on whether or not he's good, because he knows that isn't a battle he'd win. He has other things to worry about anyway, things that he wishes didn't get to him as much as they are right now.]
He's convinced that he's gotta self-flagellate at all times or else the sky's gonna fall. Don't matter who he hurts in the process.
[THAT...isn't exactly a fair assessment, but Wolfwood isn't going to be a reliable narrator right now, not when he's as wounded as he is.
Then he...sighs. His shoulders sag, and as he looks away again, his brows furrow into something more frustrated than anything.]
He tried to make me make that choice, you know. To leave. "For my own good". And when I told him no, he couldn't do it himself.
...not until earlier.
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For better or worse, Livio continues to not even acknowledge the tears, or lack thereof, besides patting Nick a couple times. He takes in Nick's words in silence, then takes his time contemplating them.
Nicholas wouldn't appreciate him sugarcoating things, and even if that wasn't the case, Livio isn't sure he's capable whatsoever.]
It sounds like he's being an ass.
[Again, his tone is level and free of outright accusation. He chooses his words carefully -- not Vash does suck, but Vash is acting sucky. Livio, of all people, knows that everyone fucks up sometimes, and it isn't his place to imply someone should abandon a person they care about over one argument. Even if, somewhere deep down, he is angry that Vash would hurt Nicholas, who clearly trusts (trusted?) him more than anyone in his adult life. Livio lashing out wouldn't help either of them.]
Are you? Going to leave. Or do you want to give him another chance?
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His hands tremble, balled into fists as they are in his lap. He barks a mirthless laugh.]
If it was my choice, do you think I'd've been out in that Forest for the last five hours? If it was...if it was my choice...
[Wolfwood's jaw aches from how hard he grits his teeth. He could be raising his voice, shouting right now, but there's maybe something more to be said about how low and quiet his voice is. It withers the more he says, showing just how incensed the whole thing has made him.
The furrows and cracks are beginning to show for Livio to see.]
I'm better off elsewhere, he said. I don't know what I'm doing, he said. I don't know what I'm SAYING, he fucking said.
[He brings one hand up to his own chest, briefly beating a staccato there with his fingers to make a point.]
He made me...feel like I was going insane. Like I was wrong for being there? Just because I was drunk?
[Uh
Uh oh-]
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... Of course, Livio isn't immune to... well, it can't really be shock. He's heard and seen enough to put a vague picture together... But it still feels presumptuous to act like he sees right through them, and Nick getting drunk around Vash is novel enough information that Livio has to take a moment to chase the surprise off of his own expression.]
What... happened?
You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to. But... I don't really know what to say right now.
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He sighs, once more trying to take a moment to calm down. It's hard, because it's easier to understand just being angry about this. But that isn't the only emotion rattling around in his head, and it requires him to admit to...a lot. Not just to Livio, but to himself.
Without the proper context though, Livio isn't going to fully get what happened. Even if he's receiving it from a biased source.]
After...that meeting. He brought me some whiskey. We had a couple drinks. And I ended up...telling him more about what happened to me. To us.
[He winces, realizing that maybe Livio might not have wanted him to do that, actually. It's not entirely his story to tell, he realizes this.]
I felt like I could trust him, I guess. So I told him. And we talked for a while. He...we. He was just...there. And it was easy, for once.
[...]
He asked if he could kiss me. But I guess he regretted it when he sobered up.
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He's sure Vash has heard of worse things come from Knives' followers, really. Livio assumed he had the saddest sob story of all, once. He isn't going to act like that again.
Again, he needs... a long moment to process. Again, he can't say he's terribly surprised. But hearing it aloud is another beast entirely. He... isn't sure how this all makes him feel.
Besides miserable on Wolfwood's behalf.]
And that's what you want. [It isn't a question, anymore, so much as an observation. Nicholas wanted to kiss Vash, and as soon as Vash was in his right mind, he sent Nick away.
What is Livio supposed to say?]
You... You deserve better. Whether it's from him or not.
[And yet... again, he has to ask. Because it isn't just Vash's choice.]
Do you want to try salvaging it?
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Livio is trying. He is trying so fucking hard and Wolfwood knows that. It really means a lot that he is.]
I... [Again, he sags. And again, his gaze slowly slides up to meet Livio's, looking more like an accosted child right now than an adult.] All I can think about is how much I want him to hurt as much as I am.
[This isn't something Vash can just keep jerking him around on, nor is it something he could just walk back into Wolfwood's space and apologize, thinking it's going to be immediately okay after. Not this time.
But that wasn't what Livio asked.
Do you want to try salvaging it?]
...I dunno what I want. I thought...I wanted that. Whatever that was making me feel. Like I was...real. And wanted.
But maybe it was just the alcohol. I don't actually know anymore.
[Maybe, because they never really TALKED about it so much as Vash said "you don't want to do that, goodbye"]
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The look Nick gives him is heartbreaking. As much as he tries to stop it, Livio's breath catches in his throat and tears threaten the corners of his eyes again.
Even hearing that, he still firmly believes that that isn't the sort of person Nicholas is. If it was, Wolfwood wouldn't have been in the woods for hours, wouldn't be here right now, seeking Livio's shoulder. He would be... hurting Vash, like he says But he isn't.]
Is that... something you want to give up without a fight? [Bad wording. Hold on.] I mean -- you should talk to him. If you think it's worth fighting for.
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I don't...want to give up, Livio. But he's made it clear, under no uncertain terms, that he ain't fucking having it.
[Lol, lmao, smash cut to Vash just showing up at his door like-]
And I am not giving him room to do this to me a third time. At that point, I'm the idiot here.
[.........]
I just don't think it'll be as easy as "talking", is all.
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Fuck it. Whether Nick fights him or not, Livio is going for a hug. A real one, with both arms, not held back for fear of hurting him because... he knows exactly what amount of strength would harm Nick, and how much less to use. So Nicholas gets a rare, unhindered embrace from Livio.]
I'm sorry you're hurting. I... I want you to be happy, Nick. Whatever you want to do, I'll back you up, and I'll be here after.
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But he isn't afraid. Nor does he try to shoulder his way out of the embrace.
No, he returns it. There's no way his own is as strong, but at least he's trying. He hugs Livio, resting his head heavily against his shoulder.]
...thank you, Livio. I'd be a lot more fucked up if you weren't here.
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At least we can be fucked up together. Same as it ever was.
[That's followed by a sigh. He isn't foolish enough to think that any of this has made Nicholas feel okay, but so long as he isn't actively snarling or crying anymore, Livio thinks that's the most he can ask.
Otherwise, there's other things to check on. He loosens his arms enough that Nick can get away if he wants.]
Are you warmed up yet? You can keep the coat tonight if you need to. Or stay. Or... both. Whatever you need.
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Those arms loosen, yet he doesn't pull away. He just sags again in Livio's embrace, like a sad beanbag. He could really use more booze, or a cigarette, or something, but he's finding that being with Livio is better than any vice he could run to right now.]
I...I'm gonna stay with you tonight. If that's okay.
[He doesn't want to go back to his room. He knows that Vash is still in the same building- he can't avoid that, not unless he wants to sleep in the snow- but at least if he's here he won't have to confront him alone if he came by, much less anyone else.]
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[That's why he offered! He's here with the hugs as long as Nick needs it, or until it gets late enough that he seems particularly tired. Then he will just have to detach himself so that Nicholas has room to lay down.
No arguing. That thing can barely hold Livio alone, and splintering the bedframe in the middle of the night will only be inconvenient.
But Livio does task Nick with one important thing before he lays down on the floor. With a face that is as deathly serious as ever, he hands over a soft little stuffed lamb.]
Petunia sleeps on the bed. Take care of her.
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He decides to keep the jacket and everything on, since it's still bitterly cold and he has not fully recovered from nearly freezing to death in the Grove. He does pause, however, as he goes to lay down and sees that Livio is handing him something.
A little black lamb. A plush toy.
...
He takes it wordlessly. No smirk, no smart remark, even if he definitely thinks that Livio would have toted around something like this as a child, if the orphanage could have afforded new toys for them.]
...I will. You have my word.
[He will sleep with Petunia IN his arms, thanks.]